Arnfield Independent School

School material change inspection report

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Arnfield Independent School PO Box 446, Glossop, Cheshire SK13 1NE

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy, available on the school website, reflects the latest national guidance.  Leaders closely monitor pupils’ welfare. They respond swiftly to any safeguarding concerns. They liaise closely with external organisations, including the commissioning local authorities, to ensure that pupils receive the support that they need. Leaders maintain detailed safeguarding records.  Staff receive regular, comprehensive safeguarding training and updates, including about any new concerns that may have arisen in relation to the welfare of individual pupils.  Staff know that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. They know to report any concerns they may have about pupils’ welfare or about the actions of other adults towards pupils. They know to report such concerns, however small they may be.  Daily meetings between school staff and care staff in the respective children’s homes

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Main inspection findings

enable the timely sharing of any information about pupils and their welfare. This helps school staff to support pupils effectively during the school day. At the end of each day, school staff provide feedback to care staff. This is to ensure that care staff have the necessary information about pupils’ welfare, behaviour and learning during the school day to best support pupils in the evening.  Staff know the pupils well. They use this knowledge effectively in order to monitor pupils’ welfare and provide appropriate support.  Pupils say that they feel safe because they have staff who care for them. Pupils are confident that, if they have a concern, there are staff with whom they can speak, who will listen to them and support them.  There is a comprehensive programme to teach pupils how to be safe. Pupils learn this through the curriculum, including the personal, social, health and economic education programme, and through informal conversations that staff have with

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Main inspection findings

pupils. Staff tailor what pupils learn in order to take into account pupils’ individual needs and any emerging concerns. Pupils learn to be safe when online, for example, and when using their mobile phones. Pupils also learn about healthy relationships, as well as emotional and mental well-being.  Staff support pupils to prepare for independent living. They ensure that pupils learn how to care for themselves, including how to budget and how to eat healthily, and how to keep safe. Paragraphs 11, 12  Designated staff complete regular health and safety and fire safety checks. Leaders use professionals external to the school to provide assurance as to the effectiveness of these checks.  Leaders act quickly to resolve any health and safety or fire safety concerns that may arise from any checks. Paragraph 14  Leaders appropriately deploy staff, including from the attached children’s homes, so that there are sufficient levels of supervision of pupils.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Leaders complete comprehensive risk assessments, including for on-site and off-site activities. These identify what actions staff should take to reduce any identified risk.  Leaders keep detailed risk assessments for each pupil. Leaders regularly update these risk assessments, including after an incident or when a new concern about a pupil emerges. They ensure that all staff have access to the revised risk assessments, so that they know how best to support pupils.  Leaders encourage pupils to complete their own risk assessments, including before they are allowed to undertake activities independently. This helps pupils to learn about how to identify and manage risk for themselves.  School leaders have ensured that the school is likely to continue to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(6)  Leaders undertake all appropriate checks to ensure the suitability of any adults who work with the pupils. They make sure that they complete all recruitment checks before any new staff take up their post at the school.  Leaders ensure that they record all checks on the school’s single central record.  School leaders have ensured that the school is likely to continue to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the

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Main inspection findings

implementation of the material change. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 28(1), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(d)  Across all three school sites, there are appropriate toilets and washing facilities available for the sole use of pupils.  There are appropriate shower facilities that pupils may use.  The water supply to these facilities is suitable. The hot water does not pose a scalding risk to pupils, for example. Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b)  Pupils who are ill use their bedrooms in the residential parts of the site to receive any medical treatment. These bedrooms are near appropriate toilet and washing facilities. Paragraphs 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b)  The classrooms are appropriate in size. The acoustics in each room are suitable.  Leaders keep the premises in an appropriate state of repair. Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(c), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)

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Main inspection findings

 Pupils have ready access to drinking water, which is clearly marked as such. Paragraph 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  There are suitable outdoor facilities across all three of the school sites for pupils’ use.  School leaders have ensured that the school is likely to continue to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  Leaders demonstrate a secure understanding of the independent school standards. They have ensured that the current provision consistently meets the standards checked during the inspection.  Leaders have carefully considered how they will manage the proposed material change using the current facilities. At present, leaders manage pupils’ learning so that they receive education on and off site. This strategy has several purposes,

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Main inspection findings

including: to support pupils in managing their relationships with each other and with staff better; to provide pupils with opportunities to study away from the school site, which also acts as their home; and to encourage pupils to engage with education by encountering a range of learning experiences. By doing this, leaders ensure that the number of pupils on the school site at any one time is appropriate to the facilities available. Leaders are committed to continuing with this strategy should the material change be approved.  Leaders are committed to ensuring that levels of supervision will increase commensurate to any increase in the number of pupils on roll and to any change that such an increase may bring to the range and type of pupils’ needs. As is their current principle, leaders will not accept a new pupil on to the school roll until they have appropriate supervision in place to provide the necessary personalised education and

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Main inspection findings

support.  Leaders have ensured that their safeguarding procedures are robust. They promote a culture of openness and vigilance among their staff.  School leaders have ensured that the school is likely to continue to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Email address headteacher@arnfieldcare.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 3 to 5 December 2019

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 17 11 to 17 11 to 17

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 11 20 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 11 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 6 Up to 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 4 Up to 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 4 Up to 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 7 12

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this school

 The school provides full-time education for up to 15 pupils aged 11 to 17 who have social, emotional or mental health difficulties. Pupils attend this school after periods of significant absence from their previous schools.  The school’s premises are based across three children’s homes that the proprietor owns. Pupils receive their education in the home in which they reside. They also receive education away from the school site, including by taking part in outdoor learning and residential trips.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, to check the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the proposed change to increase to 20 the maximum number of pupils that the school is permitted to have on roll.  This was the school’s first material change inspection for this proposed change to the provision.  The Department for Education commissioned the inspector to inspect the suitability of the school’s provision in relation to: safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessment policy and procedures; supervision of pupils; recruitment of staff; the suitability of the premises and accommodation; and the quality of leadership and management.  The inspector met with the proprietor, the headteacher and some staff.  The inspector met with some pupils.  The inspector undertook a tour of the school’s three sites.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector considered school documentation in relation to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessment.  The inspector looked at the school’s single central record and the system for undertaking checks on new staff.

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Inspection team

Simon Hollingsworth, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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